Re: Is it time to increase cals?/Bill

[Guest guest]

,

You might be on to something with the low saturated fat and no dairy,

may be a cure for high cholesterol. Since with keto, 90% of energy is

from fat, it could only be a very minor problem that might show up as

not absorbing all of the fat. If seizure control is good, keep doing

what you are doing. Let some PhD candidate figure it out.

We had a rocky time at the beginning of July. The scale broke and we

were weaning, so I just eye-balled the measurements. Then we went to a

birthday party and my wife convinced me to add in a few protein treats.

Within days, things went downhill. As usual it started as sleep time

seizures that then progressed to a few more daytime ones. Normally on

keto we just have an early morning one or two and then a couple short

ones during the day with immediate recovery.

Of course this increase happened just before the annual camping holiday

for my daughter. We borrowed a scale, increased ratio, decreased

calories and got out the ativan. She had a couple of bad nights at camp

and I felt badly as she was in a " cabin " with 6 other women within about

10 feet and she was having " screechy " seizures. Everyone was very nice

and said that it wasn't very bad.

We later went for an appointment with our neuro and he prescribed

valproic acid. Fortunately, the seizures returned to normal when we had

the prescription filled. We won't be using it. It took about 2 or 3

weeks for things to settle down.

Right now, we have continued to wean, but I am measuring with the scale.

We just yesterday went to 0.3:1 ratio, which is pretty much a normal

diet. I still feel that based on our experience, we are still on the

" keto diet " since we are still restricting calories and measuring.

I have found that I have had to lower calories with decreasing ratio. I

believe that the 4, 4, 9 calories per gram of carb, protein, and fat is

not accurate at the lower ratios. Maybe it has something to do with

energy to digest the food. I seem to recall that some of the

calculations from early books used this manipulation.

I have gradually increased protein to 2 grams per kg weight. Some people

might say that we are on Atkins type, but I think not as we are limiting

everything as per keto; calories, fat, protein and carbs. I try to use

half low glycemic and half high glycemic vegetables. I split the carbs

between vegetables and fruits. I am still using whipping cream for some

of the fat and am using eggs and chicken or fish for protein. I am using

Wholelife vitamin and mineral supplements at half strength and adding 3

brazil nuts a day. Blood tests show everything including cholesterol is

normal.

So far, so good. Next step will be to gradually increase calories and

see what happens. I make changes about every 4 weeks.

My daughter continues to make improvements in alertness, strength and

balance. Her skin and hair are above average. I am happy with the diet,

just not certain whether it is working or not.

My experience is that the diet is just like a drug treatment. Changes

have to be very gradual. There is next to nothing in Dr. Freeman's book

about going off the diet and no studies that I am aware of.

Good luck,

Bill

michelle paulson wrote:

> Thanks, Bill -

> You are probably right - there is something going on

> w/the digestion of fats - just had his cholesterol

> checked and the numbers were mostly in the teens. My

> ped. is wondering if it is a fat malapsorbtion

> problem. Funny thing is - seizure control is better

> than ever. Don't quite understand how he is still

> producing ketones if he's not metabolizing fat but

> guess I'll learn. Good in a way b/c maybe we'll get

> to the bottom of the underlying seizure disorder.

> Still may be too early to know but do know that his

> cholesterol is incredibly low for some reason. Could

> be a carnitine deficiency, too - I haven't given

> any saturated fat or dairy in 3 months -

> limited meat - and I didn't know that the only way the

> body can produce carnitine is by ingesting dairy and

> meat. Would certainly explain the uncoordination.

>

> Anyway, this is far more than you wanted to know - I

> tend to ramble!

>

> Hope all is going well on your end w/weaning the diet

> - haven't heard how things are going for you! Are you

> still weighing food or just " eye balling " these days?